NHS Baby LifeCheck is designed to provide information and advice to mothers, fathers and carers of babies aged five to eight months.

The site, which is being rolled out nationally on Monday by the DoH, was created in consultation with parents. It offers top tips, helpful videos and details of organisations which can support people across a range of issues. The DoH said that research shows that the target audience - the majority of whom are young first-time parents - respond well to parenting messages being delivered in this way.

A spokesperson for the DoH said: 'It is designed to support the messages front-line practitioners are delivering to parents every day. It can help practitioners to do their jobs and achieve their existing aims. Evidence suggests that NHS Baby LifeCheck provides a useful opening and springboard for discussions, helping front-line practitioners in their roles.'

They added: ‘NHS Baby LifeCheck empowers parents and carers by providing the information they want in order to make decision which could improve the long-term health and wellbeing of their baby.'

The DoH said that the service was also designed to reach out to parents who might not otherwise access health services as well as those looking for advice on specific things.

The site, www.babylifecheck.co.uk, has multiple choice questions, which are followed with advice and reassurance. It covers topics including development, talking and playing, feeding, healthy teeth, safety, sleep routine, immunisations and being a parent.

The launch follows the success of NHS Teen LifeCheck, which has been extremely successful with approximately 80,000 hits to the website since it went live.